Sure, some improvement is possible. But those of us who sip from the fountain of reality realize the changes won't be fast and furious in coming. 

That's as true of our bad financial habits as anything else. Nothing like compulsive gambling, but more everyday behaviors like procrastination and sheer neglect.

So, here are some ways to outwit your bad self if you're a:

Piler-filer drawer stuffer: The thicker your stack of bills, statements and other financial detritus, the more reasons you'll find to clean the bathroom. When it comes to organizing files, forget perfect. Think simple.

Keep a single file by your front door, suggests Ruth Hayden, author of "Your Money Life." Throw into it every bill and financial document you get in the mail. Then deal with the contents once or twice a month.

Casual spendthrift: You don't have a debt problem. You just gasp a little when you see how much you charge every month buying things you don't really need or even want.

If that's the case, put your credit cards in a place where it's hard to retrieve them and use cash for purchases, Jennerjohn said.

Next, exercise the 3-day rule. Write down what you want and then wait three days before buying it. By that point, you may decide to keep your money instead.

Saver in need of a lock: You're good about putting money away, but bad about holding on to your savings. So don't set up automatic transfers between your checking and savings accounts. Do something that stalls you from moving the money out. It should be a hassle.

Parent who plans to plan: You swear you'll get around to writing a will and naming legal guardians for your kids. But first, you've got to buy school supplies for your 4th grader.  Yes, it's unpleasant to contemplate your world without you. But there can be an upside: by formalizing your instructions, you can celebrate what a good and noble parent you are.

Accidental investor: You figure a chimp could do as good a job as you managing your portfolio. In any case, he'd certainly do it with more enthusiasm. So keep your investments simple: no individual stocks or bonds, just as few mutual funds as possible.

Source: AOL.com

About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International.   Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.